Biden Economy vs Trump Economy First Term Comparison

There was higher quarterly and annual economic growth under other presidents. He also said that “border crossings” in the U.S. “were lower” the day he left office than when he entered office.

The increase in real GDP under Biden peaked at 6.2% in 2021, as the economy rebounded after shrinking by 2.1% in 2020 because of the economic collapse caused by the pandemic. During Trump’s first term, growth peaked at 3% in 2018.

As for economic growth, Lakdawala said that the increase in real GDP has “averaged about 2.5% annualized so far under Trump’s second term, which is solid but actually a touch lower than the 2.9% we saw” in Biden’s last two years as president.

That’s classic Trump hyperbole ... four decades took place in 2021 – Biden’s first term – when the economy bounced back from the pandemic to surge 6.1%....

Jobs, wage growth, consumer spending and inflation under Trump look pretty decent or have been mostly stable. The stock market is near a record high. The US economy grew 2.2% in 2025, very much in line with the last three years of robust economic ...

Surveys have also found most Americans ... narrative. For example, a March 2024 CBS News poll found that 65% of Americans viewed the economy under Biden's predecessor (and eventual successor), Donald Trump, as good, whereas only 38% expressed a similar positive opinion of the current ...

The large stimulus bills — the CARES Act signed by Trump and the American Rescue Plan signed by Biden — fueled inflation risk. The Federal Reserve reacted too slowly, delivering inflation that was modest by historical standards but unfamiliar to most households. The slowing labor market and far slower economic growth of 2025 had only one major cause: the stark economic uncertainty surrounding Trump’s economic policies.

In fact, by most economic measures the economy’s performance was outstanding during President Biden’s term in office.

Biden inherited a damaged economy, but his recovery plan led to job growth, lower inflation, and a stronger economy by 2024.